The book Reveries of a bachelor was published in the year 1850, the time when most of the Americans were dealing with the same emotions depicted in the novel. So, naturally, it was very popular and widely read at that time. Although it did not receive that much critical acclaim. In these novel, the reveries or abstract musings are divided in for main parts- smoke, ashes, flames and sea anthracite. Michell writhes the novel under a pen name of Ik Marvel.
The author's theories on the lifestyle of the country, dreaming, travel and marriage are the main theme of the novel. The book illustration is of the most beautiful symbol of domesticity of Nineteenth-Century America. In the ending page, it shows how the father is smoking and cigar and reading his newspaper and the mother is going through a large book with three of their children. Mother is probably telling something significant to the children and they are listening to her very attentively. One of the boys stretches his hand to touch on a point so that he can actually connect with the mother. Looks like as if they are trying to reinforce values of sentiment and obedience.
The book represents sentiments of a country bachelor who is sitting by the fireplace of hickory and oak. In his sober and thoughtful state, he keeps on thinking about a lot of things starting from matrimony. It is suggested that the smoke is likely to signify doubt, the blaze of fire signifies cheer and the ashes signifies violence. He does not want to love anyone as there is a chance of losing that person and he can not risk it. In the second reverie, the flame of sea-coal is tossing. It looks bright and lively yet so uncertain and flickering. Its sparkles are like the light of his youth. At this time the housemaid comes and adds some anthracite to the fire. Now the fire becomes pleasant as if it symbolises a woman's love. In his cigar reverie, it is lighted by match, a piece of paper and coal, each suggesting a different kind of heart experience.
The forth reverie has three parts, morning, noon and evening. Morning represents the young man's past, noon is his unsatisfied present life and evening is the future. Future is with Caroline and how he felt her warmth of love and also faces the difficulties together. Their love did not have a smooth road but finally return to an ideal conclusion by marriage, foreign trips and also beautiful and charming European scenes.
Primarily the book might look like as if it has a peremptory or condescending point of view but the writing is very eloquent and incisive with beautiful touches of emotion and turns of wit. Michell phrased things so poetically yet frankly. The book is now a bit irrelevant because of its date but it gives the readers a lively and refreshing reading experience. Readers also much enjoy this for the fact that it actually takes one back to the time as if it's a time machine.
